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Opening the Ankle Joint to Drain or Explore

Texas rates for HCPCS 27610

Opens the ankle joint through an incision so the surgeon can look inside it, wash out infection, or remove a foreign body or loose fragment. It is most often needed when the joint is infected and the pus has to be flushed out before it eats into the cartilage. The joint is washed and then closed, sometimes over a drain.

Rates data updated October 2026.

How much does Opening the Ankle Joint to Drain or Explore cost?

$3,078

Typical total for the visit. In Texas, October 2026.

Insurers have agreed to pay about $3,078 for this procedure. That total is two separate charges: $324 to the doctor who performs it, and $2,754 to the hospital or surgery center where it takes place. Done somewhere without a facility charge, you pay only the first.

These are rates insurers have negotiated with providers, not the amount a patient is billed. What you owe depends on your plan's deductible and coinsurance. Based on rates published by 12 insurance carriers under federal price transparency rules.

What's inside this number

Part of the billTypicalRange
Physician feeThe doctor who performs it$324$70.79 to $575
Facility feeThe hospital or surgery center$2,754$1,862 to $4,571

How much rates vary

Facilitymedian $2,754 · 10th to 90th $1,380 to $7,244Professionalmedian $324 · 10th to 90th $23 to $759
$10$100$1K$10Kfacility $2,754professional $324

Distribution of negotiated rates across all payers (price axis is log-scale). Need provider-level prices or 24+ months of history? Contact us.

Rates by insurance carrier

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$851.14
Median
$2,754.23
Typical High
$6,918.31
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$549.54
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$933.25
Ambetter
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$363.08
Median
$363.08
Typical High
$1,148.15
BCBS Texas
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,412.54
Median
$2,884.03
Typical High
$7,244.36
BCBS Texas
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$758.58
Typical High
$1,000.00
Christus
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,995.26
Median
$1,995.26
Typical High
$1,995.26
Cigna
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$2,041.74
Typical High
$2,691.53
Cigna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$1,047.13
Health Smart
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$676.08
Median
$676.08
Typical High
$676.08
Lucent Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$4,677.35
Median
$4,677.35
Typical High
$5,248.07
Moda Health
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$630.96
Median
$1,862.09
Typical High
$5,248.07
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$549.54
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$933.25
Molina
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$21.88
Median
$117.49
Typical High
$562.34
Providence
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$602.56
Median
$2,041.74
Typical High
$4,466.84
Providence
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$588.84
Median
$741.31
Typical High
$1,047.13
United
Setting
Facility
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$1,698.24
Median
$4,570.88
Typical High
$9,549.93
United
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$501.19
Median
$660.69
Typical High
$1,000.00
Wellpoint
Setting
Professional
Modifier
None
Typical Low
$616.60
Median
$616.60
Typical High
$616.60
12 more rates with less common billing modifiers

A modifier changes what was billed, for example a reduced or repeated service. Each of these modifiers carries under 10% of the published rates for this code. Modifier combinations, and modifiers with fewer than 30 rates for a carrier, are not listed.

Insurance Carrier
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$346.74
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$138.04
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$524.81
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$104.71
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$69.18
Aetna
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$489.78
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
52 · Reduced service
Typical Low
$269.15
Median
$302.00
Typical High
$338.84
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
53 · Discontinued
Typical Low
$109.65
Median
$120.23
Typical High
$138.04
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
54 · Surgery only
Typical Low
$407.38
Median
$446.68
Typical High
$512.86
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
55 · Aftercare only
Typical Low
$81.28
Median
$89.13
Typical High
$102.33
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
56 · Pre-op care only
Typical Low
$54.95
Median
$60.26
Typical High
$67.61
Moda Health
Setting
Professional
Modifier
78 · Unplanned return to OR
Typical Low
$380.19
Median
$416.87
Typical High
$478.63

Where Texas sits

The same service costs 3.5 times more in Wisconsin than in Montana. Every bar is a state, most expensive first. Touch or drag across it to read any state, then open that state for its carriers and full range.

Physician feeFacility fee

Texas· 29th of 51

$3,078

$324 physician + $2,754 facility

WI $7,172MT $2,070

Median negotiated rate in each state, from every insurer that publishes one. States where no insurer publishes a rate for this service are not shown.